Euphorbia mammillaris variegata is the variegated white form of the green Euphorbia mammillaris plant which is endemic to the Province of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Mature plants can grow up to about 35cm or 14 inches in height.
How to Grow and Care for the Indian Corn Cob Plant
Like many others from the Euphorbia genus the mammillaris variegata love a good draining soil and don’t like to sit in the wet for too long. They’re very drought tolerant plants but don’t like to go too long without a drink like some succulents. The important thing is to water them well and then let the soil dry out before watering them again.
They can tolerate weather conditions from partial shade through to full sun but prefer somewhere in between. Mine do best when they get full morning sun but are protected from the harsh afternoon sun.
The variegated version of the Euphorbia mammillaris can vary in color depending on the season, how much sun they receive, and natural variations in the variegation. Their stems are generally creams and pastel, minty greens through to yellow and ochre. Spines can can be beautiful pinks and purples through to yellows, off white, and grays. Flowers are small and range from yellow through to orange.
How to Propagate Euphorbia mammillaris variegata
The variegated Indian Corncob plant is most commonly propagated from cutting. Most easily done by pulling off one of the lateral club-like growths from the main stem of the plant.
A milky sap will bleed out from where you make the break. Try to avoid contacting the white liquid with your skin as some people can have reactions to it. I’ve never worn gloves while working with my euphorbia plants and I’ve never had any skin irritations or allergic reactions but some people do, so keep that in mind.
Let the wound dry off for a day or two before planting them into a good draining dry soil mix. I then let them sit for another day or two before watering them just to make sure that the wound has properly healed. Then you can start watering them.
I treat them like babies until I can see good growth on them. So I keep them out of direct sunlight and I water them a little more regularly than the adult plants.
Euphorbia mamillaris variegata can also be grown from seed but it’s much less common than propagation by cutting. Let us know if you have grown them from seed in the comments below.
Summary of Euphorbia mammillaris variegata
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Genus: Euphorbia
- Species: Euphorbia mammillaris variegata
- Common names: Variegated Indian Corn Cob, Albino Corncob, White Corncob, Variegated Corncob Cactus.
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